SC: Maintenance to wife will get priority over claim of creditors

SC: Maintenance to wife will get priority over claim of creditors

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com 11.12.2024

New Delhi : In a significant decision, Supreme Court on Monday ruled that maintenance payable to the estranged wife and children would get priority over claims of secured, financial and operational creditors over the assets of a husband’s firm facing proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan refused to buy the excuse of the husband that he was not earning well to pay the huge arrears of interim maintenance fixed by the SC for his estranged wife and children and that his diamond factory was run ning in loss. 

“We direct that the charge of arrears of maintenance, payable to the respondents, shall have preferential right over the assets of the appellant, over and above the rights of a secured creditor or similar right holders under the insolvency framework,” it said. It ordered, “Wherever such proceedings are pending, that forum is directed to ensure that the arrears of maintenance are released to the respondents forthwith. No objection of any secured creditor, operational creditor or any other claim shall be entertained opposing the entitlement of the respondents for maintenance.” 

The bench justified its order by giving priority to maintenance over claims of creditors by saying, “Right to maintenance is commensurate with the right to sustenance. This right is a subset of the right to dignity and a dignified life, which in turn flows from Article 21 of the Constitution of India. “In a way, the right to maintenance being equivalent to a fundamental right will be superior to and have overriding effect than the statutory rights afforded to financial creditors, secured creditors, operational creditors or any other such claimants encompassed within the waterfall mechanism under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, or similar such laws.”

The SC said if the husband failed to pay arrears of maintenance to the wife, the family court “shall take coercive action against the husband and, if so required, may auction the immovable assets for the purpose of recovery of arrears of maintenance”

UGC: CUET to help students break disciplinary barriers ‘It’s Time For Universities To Adopt Open-Minded Policies’

UGC: CUET to help students break disciplinary barriers ‘It’s Time For Universities To Adopt Open-Minded Policies’ 

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 11.12.2024

New Delhi : M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson, UGC while elaborating on the changes in CUETUG 2025, gave reasons for reverting back to computer-based test (CBT) following the controversies this year, reducing the number of subjects, making all questions compulsory, and standardising test durations for logistical efficiency as well as allowing students to appear for any subject irrespective of their class XII board subjects. 

● UGC is framing guidelines to allow students to pursue subjects at undergraduate level which they have not studied in school. Will CUET-UG allow candidates to appear in subjects they have not studied earlier? 

In CUET, students can write any subject paper independent of what they studied in school. For instance, an arts student can now pursue physics at the UG level if they acquire the necessary competency, even through self-learning. NEP 2020 encourages breaking disciplinary boundaries, and CUET enables this shift. Universities need to amend their ordinances and adopt open-minded policies. Some universities currently restrict admissions to students with prior school-level expertise in specific subjects, which contradicts NEP 2020’s ethos. Universities must facilitate interdisciplinary migration to truly benefit from CUET’s flexibility. 

● Will there be a limit on the number of subjects students can opt for in CUET-UG?

 For CUET-UG 2025, students can choose up to five subjects, down from six last year. Our data show most students select four subjects, so this change provides flexibility while making exam logistics smoother. This adjustment also allows us to allocate centres closer to students’ preferences. 

● What are the key changes planned for CUET-UG 2025? 

We are standardising the exam duration to 60 minutes for all papers, with each carrying 250 marks. Students will now answer all 40 questions, eliminating choices to ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation. The shift to mandatory questions reduces bias caused by varying difficulty levels of optional questions. 

● What will be the format of the CUET-UG 2025? 

CUET-UG and PG will primarily use CBT, as recommended by Dr Radhakrishnan’s committee. CBT minimises risks like paper leaks and ensures greater reliability.

 ● What other changes are being introduced for CUET-UG? 

The medium of the exam will remain in 13 languages. However, for 20 less commonly chosen languages, including foreign and some Indian languages, we will use the General Aptitude Test for admissions. Additionally, six domain-specific subjects with low registrations— entrepreneurship, teaching aptitude, fashion studies, tourism, legal studies, and engineering graphics—will also shift to the aptitude test. These changes reduce the total papers from 63 to 37, streamlining logistics.

 ● When will the CUET-UG and PG schedules be announced? 

The schedules will likely be released in December. CUET-PG is planned for March 2025, while CUET-UG will follow the bo ard exams, likely in May.

 ● Delays in result announcements have been a concern… With the CBT format, result processing will be faster. However, certain steps, like response validation by subject experts, are essential to maintain accuracy. We aim to streamline these processes to minimise delays. 

● Do you anticipate more registrations in 2025? 

Last year saw 13.47 lakh registrations, and with more universities adopting CUET, we expect this number to rise.

 ● What role does coaching play in CUET-UG preparation?

 A. Minimal. Students who focus on their board exams perform well in CUET-UG, as its difficulty level is moderate. The feedback from students confirms this, emphasising the test’s accessibility. 

● What has been CUET’s biggest advantage and challenge so far? 

CUET ensures a level playing field by eliminating biases inherent in board evaluations and fostering diversity in universities. However, logistical challenges, like conducting the exam twice  a year or enabling on-demand testing, remain. With infrastructure growth, we hope to offer more flexible options in the future

DMK, AIADMK spar over who is to blame for 2015 floods ‘CAG Said 2015 Flood, A Man-made’

DMK, AIADMK spar over who is to blame for 2015 floods ‘CAG Said 2015 Flood, A Man-made’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  11.12.2024 

Chennai : The Chembarambakkam fiasco continued to haunt AIADMK nine years after the disastrous 2015 floods that ravaged Chennai. DMK and AIADMK locked horns in the state assembly on Tuesday over the issue of water release from the lake and consequent flooding. While chief minister M K Stalin and other ministers said floods in 2015 were caused by unannounced water release from Chembarambakkam lake, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami argued Adyar river had more carrying capacity than what was released from Chembarambakkam Lake.

“Water was released from Chembarambakkam lake without prior intimation, leading to the death of more than 250 people. Even the CAG report tabled in 2018 made it clear that it was aman-made disaster. There was a problem in seeking permission to open the dam on time, and as the permission could not be obtained, the dam was opened without prior intimation,” Stalin said. 

Palaniswami responded, saying Chembarambakkam lake was constructed for drinking water purposes and only a total of 29,000 cusecs were released from the lake that day. As the total carrying capacity of Adyar river was one lakh cusecs, the release of water at 29,000 cusecs from the lake did not cause flooding. Excess water from more than 100 lakes downstream of Chembarambakkam lake flowed in to Adyar river and resulted in the flooding, said Palaniswami. “Opening of Chembarambakkam lake did not result in flooding in Adyar River. It was the excess rain that resulted in lakes getting filled up quickly, resulting in flooding in Adyar river,” said Palaniswami. 

Health minister Ma Subramanian said the carrying capacity of the river was not one lakh cusecs. “I still reside by the side of Adyar river, and if water is released at 10,000 to 15,000 cusecs there will be flooding in the river,” Subramanian said. He also issued a challenge to Palaniswami, asking him to bring experts from IIT Madras to check the capacity of Adyar river. HR and CE minister P K Sekarbabu argued Chennai had seen severe rainfall in the last 45 years, but never before was the death toll so high as in 2015.

SASTRA offers one-year free vocational training course with monthly stipend

SASTRA offers one-year free vocational training course with monthly stipend

The Hindu Bureau

THANJAVUR 11.12.2024

SASTRA, a deemed university, will offer a one-year free vocational training course. Persons who have cleared their 8th Standard annual examinations are eligible to join this course jointly organised by SASTRA and Shanmuga Precision Forgings with financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The candidates would be provided training in C.N.C.Machine, forging, welding and desk top computing with monthly stipend of ₹5,000.

On completion of the course, a certificate would be issued by SASTRA.

Apart from stipend, lunch would be provided to the students free of cost.

Aspiring candidates can register their names before December 25 either by appearing in person at Shanmuga Precision Forgings in SASTRA Thirumalaisamudhram campus or by dialling 99949 67805 or 63837 55260, according to an official release.

CAG finds lapses in functioning of TNMSC

 CAG finds lapses in functioning of TNMSC

The Hindu Bureau  11.12.2024

CHENNAI

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found several deficiencies in the functioning of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC).

In its report tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, the CAG highlighted issues of non-supply/short supply of drugs to hospitals, deficiencies such as procuring of short-expiry drugs and non-blacklisting of suppliers, and problems in quality control (QC).

The CAG’s performance audit on ‘Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services’ pointed out that during 2016-2021, 185 suppliers provided 1,447 drugs, manufactured much earlier than 30 days before the date of supply.

Audit scrutiny revealed that such drugs costing ₹11.12 crore had expired while in stock during 2016-2021. It noted that the suppliers had replaced the expired items only in 13 instances, of which 10 were during 2020-2021 or later.

The audit observed that during 2016-2021, in 13,922 cases, drugs lying in warehouses for over six months were not sent for quality testing. During the same period, in 19 instances, drugs supplied by different suppliers failed quality check in government laboratories more than two times. Suppliers were not blacklisted in 14 instances.

While the TNMSC replied that suppliers were not blacklisted as penalty was imposed instead, the audit said that instances of failures in quality testing were very high.

Proof: How Allu Arjun Making Other Heroes Jealous

Proof: How Allu Arjun Making Other Heroes Jealous

 By M9 Updated 21:40 December 10, 2024

Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 has been breaking records in the Hindi belt and is a massive box office hit. It shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In the South, Allu Arjun’s performance is dominating more than anything. 

His cult acting has made a huge impact, clearly visible everywhere. There’s no doubt that his performance will make other stars jealous. It elevates him to another level as a performer.  Fans of every Telugu star are creating AI images of their heroes in the explosive Jatra episode, imagining them in Pushpa Raj’ role. These images are flooding social media. After seeing Allu Arjun’s performance, it’s clear that none of these stars would fit in that role. 

His delivery and the impact he created in the Jathara episode are unmatched. Allu Arjun and his character, Pushpa Raj, have become the subject of jealousy for fans of every star hero. Everyone feels not just jealousy but a desire for their heroes to deliver powerful mass masala films with performances like his.

Read more at: https://www.m9.news/movienews/proof-how-allu-arjun-making-other-heroes-jealous/

MATCHSTICK TO MOVIE MOGUL

MATCHSTICK TO MOVIE MOGUL 

TIMES OF INDIA  CHENNAI EDITION 11.12.2024

How S M Nayagam from Thanjavur became the ‘father of Sinhala Talkies’

Meenakshi Devaraj Matchstick maker, soap manufacturer, prawn exporter, gemstone trader and finally, the ‘father of Sinhala Talkies’ — though S M Nayagam managed to make a mark in several industries, the story of the man from Thanjavur remains largely untold. It all began in the 19th century, when Sundaram Pillai and Veerama, traders from Thanjavur in what was then the Madras Presidency, decided to move to Kotahena, a suburb of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Veerama returned to Thanjavur and gave birth to a son, Madhura Nayagam (meaning leader), on Sept 24, 1906, then returned to Sri Lanka, where he was raised. 

Madhura, who later changed his name to S M Nayagam, began his career as a clerk at Ford Cargo Corporation, until he noticed that the matchstick industry was taking off. Nayagam then travelled from Sri Lanka to Kumbakonam to learn wooden matchstick-making, returned with the skill and taught his wife, Deivanai, and sisters, Rajalakshmi and Jagathambal, to make them. He would ask them to produce as many sticks as they could in their free time, and after work, Nayagam would take over and handle the chemical dipping, bundling, packaging and sales of his ‘Swasthika Matchsticks’. He was among the pioneers in Sri Lanka’s matchstick industry. Inspired by the Swadeshi movement — Nayagam established a local manufacturing unit, Swadeshi Industrial Works, in 1941, in Kandana, where he lived. He produced soaps, for which he sourced sandalwood from Mysore, and later expanded to include various herbal soaps, such as neem. These products were even exported to places like America in the early 20th century. Nayagam travelled the world to gather ideas from successful business ventures and introduced several new industries to Sri Lanka, including the manufacturing of glasses, aluminium and plastics. Soon, his relatives in Thanjavur established their own businesses under the name Swadeshi. 

As the Indian entertainment industry began to flourish, Nayagam’s attention shifted toward cinema. In 1939, he established the studio Chitra Kala Movietone at Thirunagar in Madurai, where many South Indian films were produced. The studio was equipped with all the modern facilities of its time. Alongside the studio, Nayagam also founded a production company and began making Tamil films. His first Tamil film, ‘Kumaraguru’, was released in 1946. In 1947, he released ‘Thainadu’ (meaning ‘Motherland’), a patriotic film, timed to coincide with India’s independence. Until the early 1940s, only English or Indian language films were screened in Sri Lanka. One day, while casually speaking with his Sinhala friends, Nayagam learned of their desire to watch a movie in their own mother tongue. A shrewd businessman, Nayagam immediately recognised the opportunity behind the demand for a Sinhala talkie. He quickly set to work on producing the first one. Nayagam noticed the success of Tamil dramas and plays being adapted into hit films and believed this concept could work in Sinhala as well. He adapted the popular Sinhala play ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa’ (meaning ‘Broken Promise’) into a movie. The entire shooting of this first Sinhala talkie took place at Nayagam’s studio in Madurai. He brought a team from Sri Lanka to Madras, taking great care of them, even arranging for a medical team to attend to any health needs during production. Nayagam released Kadawunu Poronduwa on Jan 21, 1947. It was a massive hit, earning Nayagam the title of the ‘Father of Sinhala Talkies’. Nayagam continued producing Sinhala films, bringing many technicians and artists from South India, such as A S Nagara jan and A B Raj, to establish the early Sinhala film industry. One of the major successes from Nayagam’s production house was ‘Mathalan’ (1955). A remake of the Tamil blockbuster ‘Mangamma Sabatham’ (produced by AVM), ‘Mathalan’ was made entirely in Madras Vahini Studio due to the need for lavish sets. It ran in theatres for years, breaking all box-office records. 

On May 30, 1950, Nayagam established Sri Murugan Navakala studio in Kandana, at a cost of ₹3 lakh. The inauguration of his studio was celebrated with a festive welcome in Sri Lanka. It also attracted many south Indian technicians. Nayagam’s home in Kandana became a gathering spot for prominent figures from the Tamil film industry, including Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Major Sundarrajan and the Travancore Sisters (Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini). One of Nayagam’s unfulfilled dreams was to create a film based on the Jataka  tales, a Buddhist story set in Madras. He even announced this ambitious project at a press conference at Madras Woodlands. Nayagam, a pioneer in nearly five industries in Sri Lanka, died on Feb 4, 1978, at the age of 72. 

Following his death, many of his family members were forced to relocate to various parts of the world due to the riots in Sri Lanka during the 1980s. The family was deeply moved when they saw the remnants of Nayagam’s Chitra Kala Studio in Madurai. The site where the studio once operated has since been transformed into a housing colony, with the name Chitrakala still attached. A portion of the building, bearing the word Chitrakala, remains to this day as a tribute to the man from Thanjavur who took Sri Lanka by storm. 

(The writer is a researcher on Tamil culture) Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesofindia.com GANDHI, GODS AND GLOBAL EXPANSIONS ➤ Nayagam was a voracious reader with a deep love for his mother tongue Tamil ➤ His grandsons Rajeev and Sanjeev recall how he carefully preserved letters from Mahatma Gandhi ➤ He was a devout follower of Lord Murugan of Thiruparankundram. His office was adorned in red velvet and featured a statue of Lord Murugan at its centre. Nayagam combined business trips to Tamil Nadu with visits to Murugan temples ➤ Nayagam was also involved in prawn export and gemstone trade. His enterprises were so successful that he expanded internationally with units in places such as Hong Kong ➤ Nayagam’s niece, Shaantha Jayaraj, is working to compile information about his life